Find out how popular the first name Josey has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Josey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Josey is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 76% of people named Josey being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 74 female babies and 19 male babies born with the name Josey.

The history of the first name Josey

The name Josey has its roots in the Hebrew name Joseph, which means "he will add" or "he will increase." This biblical name traces back to the Old Testament and the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel. The name was initially spelled as Yosef in Hebrew, later transliterated to Joseph in English.

The name Josey emerged as a diminutive or nickname for Joseph. It first appeared in English-speaking countries like England and the United States during the Middle Ages, likely due to the influence of French and Norman cultures. The spelling "Josey" is an anglicized version of the French diminutive "Josée."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Josey can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of the Great Survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Iosei," likely referring to a person named Joseph or a variant thereof.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Josey. One of the earliest was Josey of Gorton (c. 1330-1399), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reigns of Edward III and Richard II.

Another prominent figure was Josey Slick (1655-1726), an English pirate active in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was known for his daring exploits and his association with the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

In the realm of literature, Josey Bartlett (1816-1898) was an American writer and educator from New Hampshire. She authored several books, including "The Life and Poems of Josey Bartlett" and "Recollections of a Schoolmistress."

The name Josey also had a place in the world of sports. Josey Jewell (1896-1976) was an American baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for teams like the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox during the 1920s and 1930s.

More recently, Josey Scott (1974-present) is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the rock band Saliva. Their hit songs include "Click Click Boom" and "Always."

While these examples span different eras and fields, they showcase the enduring presence of the name Josey throughout history, rooted in its biblical origins and evolving through various cultural influences.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Josey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Josey, please contact us.

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